ASSIGNMENT
Use this source only: https://uerjundergradslit.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/the-norton-anthology-of-american-literature-9th-edition-volumes-a-b
Read Pages 629-642
In a 250 word post, respond to one of the following prompts:
Poe defines his concept of “the perverse” as a drive that all people feel towards self-destruction. When we’ve committed murder, the perverse is that part of us that wants to confess. When we’re on a cliff, the perverse makes us want to jump.
Give an example of the psychological torment that the characters feel in “The Fall of the House of Usher.”Explain how that torment helps explain why people do things that aren’t in their best interests.
Support each part of your post with MLA cited examples/quotes from each text.
Respond to the classmate post below in 125 words. Support your classmate’s perspective with additional information from the texts. Support your response with MLA cited examples/quotes from each text. Or, provide an alternative perspective to your classmate’s. Explain your rationale and provide evidence from the texts.
Classmate post
In the fall of the house of Usher, the characters are tormented psychologically, especially Roderick. Roderick is wasting away because of some unknown illness that has many psychological effects he called it “A mere nervous affection”(632). This nervous affection caused his senses to be way too strong so that food tasted bad, he could only wear certain fabrics, his sense of smell and eyesight was greatly a pain to him and he could only handle certain sounds. Is illness was apparently mental not physical but it did have physical effects on his body, as he was wasting away.
This kind of torment could drive anyone crazy, his senses are so enhanced that almost everything bothers him. Poe’s definition of perverse, meaning the drive towards self-destruction can be applied to Roderick in this story. He mentions at times that it is a family affliction and that the house itself may be ill, but never leaves the house (632).
It is possible that he has been driven so crazy from his psychological torment that the idea of leaving the house isn’t one that has occurred to him. Or maybe the perverse side of him feels that he can’t leave, that this is his fate passed down to him by his family. He allows himself to fall further and further into psychosis and physically poor health. Especially after his sister dies and he allows himself to be tormented by the idea that she may still be alive and trying to escape (641). He just gives in to this insanity instead of just knowing that he was right and she was dead or simply going to check.
Throughout the story we slowly watch Roderick succumb to the madness that he cannot seem to save himself from.
